Archive for the ‘Obessions’ Category

I know, I know, “What?!?!” Windows Vista has gotten a pretty bad rap in the mainstream media… and the non-mainstream media, technical trade publications, non-technical publications, blogs, tv, etc. etc. It’s true: Vista isn’t perfect. And there were a lot of issues with it when it was initially released. Most of these issues stemmed from incompatible hardware drivers.

On the other hand, Mac OS has enjoyed an almost “Messiah” status, mostly amongst the Starbucks crowd (you know who you are). I don’t disagree that Mac OS is pretty darn slick, and in reality, my next computer purchase will probably be a Mac (especially since they now come with Intel processors, and thus allow me to run Windows as well).

That being said, I have to admit that I only recently upgraded to Windows Vista (yes, I consider it an upgrade), and it is pretty darn slick in it’s own right. If you consider the fact that Microsoft has to cater to thousands of hardware manufacturers for compatibility, while Mac has had to cater to only one (and now a handful), it’s a pretty impressive feat. If Windows only needed to run on a handful of computer models, there would have been no backlash, and all the time and effort spent on hardware compatibility could have been spent on innovation. But even with the odds stacked against them, they were able to come out with something pretty decent.

After having used it for a couple of months now, I still have only scratched the surface of what it can do, and I look forward to finding out what else is hiding in there. As the saying goes, knowledge is power, and the more you know about what Vista can do and how it works, the more accepting you would probably be of it yourself… but don’t call me to find out what those things are, please, i’ve got my hands full at the moment.

The most perfect foods are often the simplest. Sure, we all wish we could eat lobster and steak all the time, but if you really think about it, you probably couldn’t. Pho, however, is one of those foods that I think I really could eat every single day. It’s healthy, yet tasty. Light, yet satisfying. It’s one of the few perfect foods (in my opinion). Lucky for us, we live near one of the best pho restaurants around: Pho Saigon in Superior, CO.

We used to live literally across the street, but never actually started eating here till we moved. At least we’re still only a 5 minute drive away. We eat here about once a week on the average, a little less lately. We also just found out that the owner’s husband is from Hawaii (Maui)! What a small world, eh?

What I like best about this place is that it is clean and uncluttered. I’m not just talking about the physical restaurant, either. For some reason, the pho itself seems “clean” as well. What is “clean” pho, you ask? I’m not exactly sure how to explain it, but it has to do somewhat with the clarity of the broth, as well as the pearly whiteness of the tripe (most places have tripe with a slight, or not-so-slight, yellowish tinge to it). It’s probably just in my head (a lot of things are), but that’s OK with me!

A close second is a place called Pho Duy in Broomfield. The atmosphere “feels” a bit more authentic, if only for the hustle and bustle of snappy, Vietnamese-shouting waiters and a mostly asian clientel, but I prefer the laid back atmosphere and “cleaner” taste of Pho Saigon. That being said, the portions are definitely larger and they are open on Sundays (Pho Saigon is closed on Sundays). We usually eat here when we shop at the asian market next door.

What is one thing all fathers-to-be have in common (besides worrying about the future of their new family)? They all think they’re gonna magically become semi-professional photographers overnight. But how can you do that without a new camera?

Well, a new camera isn’t necessarily gonna make me a better photographer overnight, but it does allow for a lot more flexibility once I learn how to use it. Enter the Nikon D40 with Nikkor 18-200mm VR lens and SB-400 flash. It’s an older model, but it still ain’t cheap! Got it new from Ritz Camera. The lens (bought separately) is amazing! It goes from wide angle to 11x zoom! Also, the camera is FAST!

I’ve been reading a photography textbook and trying to teach myself about photography, so hopefully it pays off with nice pics to share on this website! Also, this is my last “toy” for a while, with the baby and all. But of course I’m justifying it by saying, “I’m using it for the family.”

Keith found a SUPER deal on a used fish tank at a garage sale: 20 gallon tank, filter with new pads, gravel, decorations, heater, etc. etc. All for 10 bucks! He even delivered it out our door! Can’t beat the service.

At first I thought it would just be neat to have a fish tank, but it has turned into an obsession. There are so many things to know about keeping fish, such as the cycling process, ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate levels, feeding, temperature regulation, etc.

We originally had 3 common goldfish in there (cheap, about 25 cents each from the “feeder tank”), but the ammonia levels got too high for one of them (Lenny) so he died. =( Lenny was the was the biggest and slowest.

I was planning on using them as “starter” fish to complete the cycling process, but I’ve fallen for them now and so here they will stay.

The other two are thriving. The redhead is Conan (pasty white body with red head, just like Conan O’brien!) and the orange one is Skipper (I let the kids name that one). Yes, I talk to them… a lot… Jody thinks I’m crazy, and I agree. I pre-soak their food so that they don’t get bloated, and hand-pick every flake of food I feed them. They seem to recognize me too: whenever I go near the tank, they “beg” for food by swimming up against the glass toward me and “wagging” their tails.

I try to clean their tank about twice a week and experiment with different types of foods. I also check the ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, pH, and hardness of the water regularly. Did you know that goldfish can grow up to a foot long and bigger? They are related to carp. These guys are still only about a couple of inches long. Also, they can live for 20+ years! At least it’s easier than dogs…